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Ben Kraft served in Afghanistan


Funeral services for Ben Kraft, 24, of Sioux Falls and formerly of Mobridge, were held Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at United Congregational Church.
Burial was at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Wessington Springs, under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Ben passed away Dec. 8, 2014, at his home in Sioux Falls.
Benjamin Charles Kraft was born Nov. 28, 1990, to Keith Clifford and Debra Kay (Buffington) Kraft in Wessington Springs. He attended kindergarten at Wessington Springs Elementary. He attended first through third grade at Bristol Elementary in Webster Groves, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, while his dad was going through seminary at Eden Seminary. After the family moved to Mobridge in 2000, Ben attended school in Mobridge, graduating from Mobridge-Pollock High School in 2009. In high school, Ben was active in sports (wrestling, football, cross country, track), music (chorus and band), and drama and Oral Interp. He was a four-year All-State Chorus participant.
Ben joined the South Dakota National Guard in 2008, completing his basic training and advanced individual training in 2009, and was a member of the 200th Engineering Battalion stationed in Mobridge, Pierre and Chamberlain. Ben served a year of active duty with the 200th in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011.
Ben attended a year and a half of further education at Northern State University before his tour of duty in Afghanistan. While at Northern he was active in speech, as well as music and drama, participating in several productions. After Ben returned from Afghanistan, he transferred to Augustana University in Sioux Falls, where he majored in drama, speech and religion. On his summer breaks, Ben continued to explore his love for the theater, spending one summer with Northern Fort Theater at Fort Sisseton and one summer with the Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State Park.
Ben was a member of the United Congregational United Church of Christ in Mobridge as well as a member of the Spirit of Peace United Church of Christ in Sioux Falls. In the United Congregational UCC, Ben was an active member of the choir and the youth group. Ben and his fiancée, Hailey, were both active in the activities at Spirit of Peace.
Ben is survived by his parents, Keith and Debra Kraft of Mobridge; one sister, Valissa (Alex) Farrell of Rapid City; one brother, Andrew (Jessica) Kraft of Parker, Colo.; his fiancée, Hailey De Yonge; and one dearly beloved niece, Julianne Kraft of Parker.
He was preceded in death by one paternal grandmother, Thelma Kraft, and one maternal grandmother, Darlene Buffington.

 

 

Ben Kraft

Ben Kraft

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